# File Attachments HarvardSites Drupal supports file attachments in the following formats: TXT, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, CSV, PDF, PPT, PPTX, and RTF. There are several ways to upload and link to a file attachment. Here we provide an overview of each and link to instructions and more details. **NOTE:** [Site visibility settings](/managing-site-visibility "Managing site visibility") do not protect access to file attachments. Please use [Harvard’s secure SharePoint platform](https://www.huit.harvard.edu/sharepoint) for storing and sharing private documents. See guidance on [Sending and Sharing Files](https://www.huit.harvard.edu/sending-and-sharing-files) for more details about tools that support other file formats and secure file-sharing. ## Add an attachment as a Resource We recommend adding file attachments using the **Resource** content type. Documents provided using the **Resource** content type can include additional details, such as taxonomy terms, and can be referenced and added globally to multiple pages. In addition, a document provided as a **Resource** can appear on generated pages, such as search results and taxonomy pages, and in a **Resource** [**List** **Component**](/list-component "List Component") and [**Listing Page**](/listing-page "Listing Page"). When a file attachment is part of a **Resource**, managing file updates and changes is straightforward. You simply replace the file attachment with the new file, either in the **Resource** edit screen or the [Media Library](/resource/media-library "Media Library"). All links to the **Resource** will stay functional, even if the document filename changes. When creating a **Resource** to serve as a link to a file attachment, use the **Download File** option in the **Resource** **Type** menu (see [how to use the **Resource** content type](/resource "Resource") for instructions). ## Add a File Attachment to another content type You can add one or more documents as file attachments to content types (with the exception of the **Resource** content type). See the **File Attachment** section in the right sidebar of the content edit view. ![Screenshot of Article page with a heading and text, and an Attachments section with a PDF icon followed by a link to the file attachment.](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2024-11/screenshot_file_attachment.png?itok=ogzjCdzx) Adding a file attachment to an Article content type displays the file in an Attachments section at the bottom of the details page. ## Related how-tos [### Resource ](/resource)How to work with the Resource content type to provide informational resources, external links, and downloadable files. ![Notebook open to a page with diagrams and tables, with a pen, squeeze ball, and glasses case.](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2024-08/thumb_resource_content_type.jpg?itok=DBbASWDf) --- ## Related resources [### Checking for (and managing) broken links on your HarvardSites site ](/resource/checking-and-managing-broken-links-your-harvardsites-site)Identify, fix, and prevent broken links on your site. ![AI-generated image showing nodes connected by lines](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-10/pexels-googledeepmind-17485658.jpg?itok=uU0i8Pjm) [### Using announcement banners effectively (VIDEO) ](/resource/using-announcement-banners-effectively-video)Best practices for creating effective website announcement banners. ![a hand holding a megaphone](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-06/AdobeStock_378138203.jpeg?itok=tX7YW0J8) [### Content publishing states in HarvardSites (VIDEO) ](/resource/content-publishing-states-harvardsites-video)Understand the differences between saving content as draft, unpublished, or published states. ![a hand moving blocks forming a workflow](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-06/AdobeStock_522400980.jpeg?itok=MrUfEFN9) [### Pages vs Lists vs Resources vs News in HarvardSites (VIDEO) ](/resource/pages-vs-lists-vs-resources-vs-news-harvardsites-video)Learn when to use pages, lists, resources, or news to display content on your site. ![File folders with papers](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/pexels-nada-mohamed-3446789-29234185.jpg?itok=sE0QoWAv) [### Citation styles supported in HarvardSites Drupal ](/resource/citation-styles-supported-harvardsites-drupal)Review the citation styles available in HarvardSites Drupal that best matches your discipline, department, or publication standards. ![an open book](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/pexels-pixabay-267582.jpg?itok=0uA1Z_0G) [### How saving works in HarvardSites (VIDEO) ](/resource/how-saving-works-harvardsites-video)Understand the way saving your pages and components work in HarvardSites Drupal. ![AI-generated image of a file folder made of glass](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/AdobeStock_1995028079.jpeg?itok=jqzANj4t) [### Images in HarvardSites Drupal: Getting the results you expect (VIDEO) ](/resource/images-harvardsites-drupal-getting-results-you-expect-video)Learn how images are handled differently depending on how and where you use them. ![a person using a phone that has images on its screen](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/pexels-cottonbro-5082579%20%281%29.jpg?itok=JlHI6Xvr) [### Hero component: Styles, sizes, and best practices (VIDEO) ](/resource/hero-component-styles-sizes-and-best-practices-video)Understanding the options available in the Hero component and best practices. ![a tablet computer showing a website](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/pexels-pixabay-39559.jpg?itok=-VFJXOhB) [### How to navigate and edit nested content (VIDEO) ](/resource/how-navigate-and-edit-nested-content-video)How-to video on understanding how content and components are nested on HarvardSites Drupal ![Black squares within bigger squares](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/pexels-pppsdavid-6727764.jpg?itok=mxCK2clU) [### Sharing audio and video on your site ](/resource/sharing-audio-and-video-your-site)Best practices for sharing audio files (like podcasts) and videos. ![a computer screen displaying digital audio waves](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/pexels-pixabay-257904.jpg?itok=Cp1H1EbL) [### Optimizing your site for search engines and artificial intelligence ](/resource/optimizing-your-site-search-engines-and-artificial-intelligence)Learn how to improve your site's content for search engines and AI-generated content. ![Laptop computer with Google search on the screen](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/pexels-caio-67112.jpg?itok=ieznmSs0) [### Using VPN to edit your site ](/resource/using-vpn-edit-your-site) Why use VPN when editing your site When working on your HarvardSites Drupal site, we recommend connecting through Harvard’s Virtual Private Network (VPN). Connecting to Harvard’s VPN before you log in makes admin tasks smoother and more secure. It gives... ![Harvard gate leading up to the Science Center](/sites/g/files/omnuum1651/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/Screenshot%202025-09-26%20at%209.29.51%E2%80%AFAM.png?itok=paIb561k) See also:- [ Guidance ](/content-structure/guidance) - [ Files ](/general-site-management/files)